The Park

 PC
Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 25
  3. Negative: 2 out of 25
  1. Kill Screen
    Nov 11, 2015
    72
    This game is impossible to play without thinking, specifically, of the Australian horror film The Babadook.
  2. IGN
    May 4, 2016
    70
    While the first half of The Park tends to lean a bit too hard into the horror tropes of a spooky carnival, the final act does a really great job of developing a character with the pathos that comes from being a mother who’s having a tough time dealing with the impossible stress that comes from being a parent. Sure, it’s some of the same ground that Silent Hill games have covered in the past, but that doesn’t diminish its effectiveness.
  3. GameSpot
    Nov 3, 2015
    70
    Despite its lacking final moments, The Park makes the experience of searching a haunting, abandoned amusement park feel genuinely tense. This, rather than a specific plot point, is what sticks with you after you turn off the game and return to your normal, less disturbing reality.
  5. CGMagazine
    Oct 30, 2015
    70
    Despite how [The Park’s] conclusion stands out as both horrifying and emotionally resonant, the plot suffers in a lead-up that can feel a bit aimless.
  6. Softpedia
    Oct 30, 2015
    70
    The Park is an interesting attempt to offer a spin-off experience for those who love The Secret World and to deliver some Halloween appropriate content for gamers who are interested in psychological horror.
  7. Game Informer
    Oct 28, 2015
    70
    The Park is more unnerving that outright scary, though there are a few attempts at jump scares scattered throughout the game.
  8. Vandal
    Nov 5, 2015
    68
    If you like "walking simulators", The Park pulls out an interesting horror-based adventure. The story is a little bit weak, but the overall experience feels worth it in the end. Still, it's very short and a little bit pricey.
  9. CD-Action
    Jan 12, 2016
    65
    Norwegian horror walker drowns in overused clichés but has some really scary moments. [13/2015, p.57]
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  10. SpazioGames
    Nov 13, 2015
    65
    It’s a low cost horror game that gives you a decent enough storyline to justify the price tag. It’s also a short game though, and not a memorable one. Get it only if you truly love this kind of product.
  11. GameCrate
    Nov 11, 2015
    65
    The silver lining of The Park's poor showing is that it could lead Funcom to try harder should it attempt subsequent single-player adventures. In the meantime however, The Park is one attraction you should definitely skip out on.
  12. 4P.de
    Nov 6, 2015
    61
    An interesting trip into a world of psychological horror. But it definitely lacks uniqueness as it starts to follow the path of Dear Esther and eventually tries to emulate Silent Hills.
  13. PLAY! Zine
    Nov 9, 2015
    60
    Even though it has some interesting ideas, you’ll be mostly a passive observer on this one time only ride.
  14. Brash Games
    Nov 1, 2015
    60
    The atmosphere is built beautifully created and the story is interesting, despite being somewhat predictable, as well as being deep if you choose to find the notes. The aesthetics are faultless and the shortage of cheap jump scares is good to see. However, I’m only going to give The Park a [60] due to its pricing and predictable plot.
  15. GameWatcher
    Oct 27, 2015
    60
    The Park has solid atmosphere and pretty good scares, but it also has an unremarkable heroine and an inconsequential plot. It might be a decent curiosity if you’re looking purely for the video game equivalent of a haunted house, but its high price and short length make it difficult to recommend.
  16. Destructoid
    Oct 27, 2015
    60
    It really does try something different, even if you can feel the core themes sneaking up on you a mile away.
  17. PC Games
    Oct 28, 2015
    59
    Funcom’s return to single-player games feels more like a proof of concept than an actual game. Walking simulators are fine, but they have to make up in story and atmosphere what they lack in terms of gameplay and player interaction. The Park doesn’t achieve that. It’s dull, the scares are cheap and the characters lifeless.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 7, 2015
    It’s a short journey but not eventful enough for a repeat trip.

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
68
#68 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 87 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 87
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 87
  3. Negative: 27 out of 87
  1. Dejakritz
    Oct 27, 2015
    4
    The Park relies heavily on story. It does a good job of building mystery and has some good jump scares. But everything is overshadowed by aThe Park relies heavily on story. It does a good job of building mystery and has some good jump scares. But everything is overshadowed by a sudden, arbitrary end which renders your formerly interesting journey meaningless.… Full Review »
  2. Mokrag
    Oct 29, 2015
    6
    I wish I had a lot to say about this game, but it's not really a game.
    There's no fail state, there's no choice, there's no real player    I wish I had a lot to say about this game, but it's not really a game.
    There's no fail state, there's no choice, there's no real player interaction.
    This game would be the exact same game without players, with just automated walking.
    It's a walking simulator, and not a very good one. Let me tell you why.

    I'm a long time TSW player and loved the previous takes on adventure games from Funcom so I was actually "hyped" about this. I guess that in part my expectations were what killed this product for me.

    So, as you start the game you are given an objective: grab that brat and take him back. No backstory, no character introduction at all. The kid was crying about his toy and then just runs (supposedly) into a closed park.
    As one enters the park, the first "this is going to be awkward" alert rang. An earthquake or similar, a complete change of environment and the main character reacted by... oh wait! The main character didn't react at all. Kinda weird for a "narrative" story in my opinion, but sure, I'll take it, after all there's a small, fast commentary about it at the top of the stairs (and that's all).

    The "shout" mechanic is completely useless. That is supposed to be the mechanic that gives you the correct direction and can highlight intractable items, but it's completely unneeded since there is Zero alternative routes. You follow the path and that's it. Hidden objects (pages with lore) are badly hidden and some of them (the hand written ones) are completely impossible to read on lower spec. configurations.

    By the way, let me say that this is probably one of the worst optimized walking simulators I had the displeasure to submit my rig to.

    Have you player The Secret World extensively and were interested by it's lore/story? Then you might find some of all this interesting. If you haven't, then just forget it. There's nothing for you here.

    The main character is completely impersonal. The shouts reveal a complete different emotion from all the rest of the voice acting (voice acting is great tho.) The scared lady giggles and laughs about some of her thoughts and newspaper pages she finds while looking for her lost kid with shouts that transmit desperation. It's just too bipolar to be believable.

    Want a mystery? Not here. The plot (if you can call it that) is obvious from the start.

    The main mechanic: Walk to a park ride. Enter the ride. Spend a few minutes locked down to your sit (sometimes facing nothing but other sit) with your camera locked on a 90º angle of freedom while "scary" stuff happen. I say "scary" because without freedom to move, look at, interact with anything, the stuff thrown at you can't be really scary.

    The last part of the game consists in going through the same rooms again and again... and again.. and again (with slightly different assets thrown at each scene). You have a complete notion that nothing can hurt you and "lore" objects start repeating. Dull!

    Looks pretty, if your computer can handle it without bursting into fire and if you're a TSW lore fan this will give you a happy nerd moment at some points. The feeling doesn't stay with you for a long time tho, since the dull move-to-another-ride will be at the next corner.

    Oh, there is a couple of jump-scares. Jump-scares that feel like they were done by a first timer indie dev.
    As lame and predictable as they could be.

    Also, a small hint for Funcom's future walking simulators (I hope they drop the idea of walking simulator and go full adventure game, but here's the hint nontheless): Don't break immersion on a story that has nothing to it except the immersion, with huge MMO looking load screens. That last ride entrance was awkward. Not that I was very immersed in the game at the point, since the character doesn't allow that very easily, but that load screen got awarded with a facepalm.

    The best thing about this game has to be the sound. The sound engineering gave this game 98% of it's feeling. It's not innovative at all, but it's well done and sounds great.

    At the end, I congratulated me for being able to spend almost 2h in this game, watching paint dry on a very bland and dull painting.

    Want a good Part horror story? Try the MMO.
    This one doesn't has any value. TBH I think the The Secret World costume set and items are more valuable than this game.    … Full Review »
  3. Zer0TheHer0
    Nov 14, 2015
    1
    could be a decent game, but the lack of keyboard binding options makes it absolutely unplayable. the lack of rebinding options is absolutelycould be a decent game, but the lack of keyboard binding options makes it absolutely unplayable. the lack of rebinding options is absolutely lazy and something that is not to be tolerated in this time and age
    also the bonuses given to the secret world players make that game now a pay to win and it's unacceptable    … Full Review »
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